Welcome to the Buildpass Sustainable Construction Blog

The UK’s rollout of heat pump installations is running behind schedule, according to the National Audit Office. But what’s the reason for the drop and what does this mean for the green agenda? For some time now, heat pumps have sat front and centre of Government plans to bring the UK closer and closer toRead the full article…

The National Retrofit Hub has published its guide to Digital Building Logbooks, which use data and personalised insights to enhance nationwide retrofit and inclusive sustainability. In the quest for net zero and the broader green agenda, the need to find more efficient ways to conserve energy and contribute to sustainable construction has never been stronger.Read the full article…

The Home Energy Model is due to come into effect in 2025 – but what is it, what is it replacing and what does it mean for you? Back in December 2023, the UK Government shared consultations on the Home Energy Model – aka, a replacement for the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP). While SAP isRead the full article…

What is Diathonite Thermal Plaster and how can it improve the energy performance, thermal and sound insulation of a building? Read on to find out. Unfortunately, historic buildings are far from the most energy efficient and it can be difficult to improve their carbon and energy performance without damaging the buildings heritage values. With thisRead the full article…

SKA rating is another way to prove the energy efficiency of your building. Read our latest blog to find out more. Since the UK declared a state of climate emergency in 2019, the construction industry has been tackling a countrywide endeavour to hit net zero by 2050. Here at Buildpass, we’ve talked many times aboutRead the full article…

Baffled by Part O of the Building Regulations? You aren’t alone. Here we explain what we really think about Building Regulations Part O (Overheating). There’s a lot of talk about Part O of the Building Regulations – talk that’s been going on for some time since it was first mentioned in December 2021. The apparentRead the full article…

We look back at the core themes, challenges and opportunities that have influenced the energy sector in the past year. Every year, we like to take a look back at what’s happened within the world of sustainable energy – the shake ups, the plateaus and everything in between. And this year has certainly been aRead the full article…

With a frosty drop in temperature and still soaring energy costs, you’re probably wondering how you can cut back on the bills (while still staying toasty). Here we explore winter energy saving myths. While the winter season – and the countdown to Christmas – brings with it plenty of joy, festivities and copious opportunities toRead the full article…

Exciting news for the sustainable construction industry as Nottingham Trent University (NTU) invests £1.5 million into a brand new Centre for Sustainable Construction and Retrofit. After recent knocks to the sustainable construction industry following Rishi Sunak’s back pedal on the green agenda, some good news on the future of eco-friendly builds was much needed. WeRead the full article…

Modular construction techniques, where parts of a building are prefabricated offsite before being transported and assembled on location, have proven to be popular with building companies and renovation experts over the years.  Modular construction: A greener and efficient alternative to traditional building methods This construction method often promises faster project completion times, greater quality control,Read the full article…

Is building to net zero on your agenda, but you aren’t really sure where to start? Read on to learn how a CPD in Net Zero Construction could be the perfect route for you. In the world of construction and architecture, the concept of Net Zero has taken centre stage, captivating the attention of professionalsRead the full article…

What is the whole life-cycle carbon assessment guidance? Read on to find out. In an era where more and more of us are embracing environmental consciousness, it has never been more important to prioritise sustainability in the construction industry. The built environment is responsible for about 40% of the UK’s carbon emissions, and is thereforeRead the full article…

A new proposed update to the BREEAM standards suggests that buildings designed to use less energy during peak periods could be incentivised. Read on to find out more. On the 24th of May, BRE launched a public consultation, highlighting changes to its widely-used sustainability assessment method. The method will be Version 7 of the BREEAMRead the full article…

Are you working on a retrofit or refurbishment of a commercial building? Then PAS 2038 is an absolute must! Read on for our guide on PAS 2038, what it is and why you need it. In the sustainable construction industry, we like to talk about retrofits. It’s become a buzzword in the energy world becauseRead the full article…

When we think about the climate crisis, we typically think of plastic waste, pollution from factories and the number of cars on the road. But how often do we consider the buildings we live and work in every day?  Climate change is a major design problem for the architectural and construction industries right now. TheRead the full article…

Learn all you need to know about the intricate and popular world of Passivhaus in our latest blog. Described as the mecca for all energy and sustainability consultants, Passivhaus, (otherwise known as Passive House) is one of the world’s leading energy efficiency standards and construction concepts. It’s been made to advise the industry on howRead the full article…

In the latest of our guest post series, we heard from renewable energy expert, Robert Cathcart, of SOLAR FAST about how (and why) solar panels can increase the value of your home. Can a Solar Energy System Improve the Value of Your Home? This question can be asked about any kind of home improvement andRead the full article…

What is thermal modelling and how important is it to you and your construction project? Find out more in our latest blog. Thanks to the new Approved Document O in the Building regulations, the construction industry has now dedicated its time to protecting the health and welfare of occupants within a building by reducing overheating.Read the full article…

Buildpass investigates a new survey outlining a staggering lack of awareness around energy efficiency and business buildings. To encourage workers back into the office, Irwin Mitchell recently conducted a survey ‘Redefining the Office – A report on office occupier trends in 2023’ to identify how office purposes need to be re-evaluated to reflect current andRead the full article…

A consortium of housing associations is looking for contractors and consultants for a retrofit framework worth £1.48bn. Here at Buildpass, we are committed to staying at the forefront of the sustainable construction agenda – as part of this, we are dedicated to bringing you all the latest updates from the world of energy performance andRead the full article…

Proposed Part Z building regulations could provide mandatory assessments and reporting of whole life carbon. What does this mean for self builders? Embodied carbon is a hot topic in the world of sustainable construction. With the net zero drive on the horizon, making a conscious and deliberate effort to cut your carbon emissions from theRead the full article…

Follow these steps to build low carbon buildings, produce more sustainable homes and reduce your carbon footprint. There is no avoiding the fact that those in the construction landscape need to prioritise sustainability in the design, construction and ongoing maintenance of buildings. Construction industry emissions are at a frightening high, with reports suggesting that theRead the full article…

From topping up your insulation to draught proofing your home, our top energy efficiency tips will help you save money and cut down on those bills. The ‘cost of living’ is probably a phrase that you’re tired of hearing. It’s everywhere, and it’s frightening. However, the reality is that this is something we are allRead the full article…

Building to Net Zero: costing carbon in construction is a report set out by the Environmental Audit Committee. Today we’re looking back on the report and unpicking what it all means. Back in May, the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) published their ‘Building to net zero: costing carbon in construction‘ report, which explores the role ofRead the full article…

Read our latest guest post with James from Mixergy, market leader in hot water tank innovation. Created back in 2015, Mixergy are the makers of The Mixology Tank – an exciting, modern and innovative product which is re-thinking how hot water is done, using technology to find cost-effective and convenient solutions which help people liveRead the full article…